Attorn



4 Sheefs-Sheet 1. W. G. WENDTE.

MULTIGOLOR PRINTING PRESS.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES:

INVENTOI? ATTORNEY.

THE NATIONAL mnmnnwnma cuMPAuv.

WASHINGTON. n. c.

4 Sheets-Sheet, 2;

H T D N E W O W a a M 0 m MULTIGOL OB PRI NTI NG PRESS.

No. 517,908. Patented Apr. 10, 1894.

v V INVENTOH lwlw 44022 AZTOHN WITNESSES.

m: mmomu. Lm-(aeRAPame' ceInPANY.

'(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 W; C. WENDTE. MULTIUOLOR PRINTING PRESS.

No. 517,908. Patented-Apr. 10, 1894.

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QXWCM woes 4 I gwveM/co'v Y Maw/t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM o. WENDTE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIcNoR TO EMMA L.

FORBES, on SAME P Ao .M ULTlCOLOR-PRINTING PRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 517,908, dated April 1o,1s94.

Application filed June 30, 1893. Serial No. 479,284. (No model.)

To all whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. WENDTE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multicolor-Printing Presses, (designated Oase D,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention is related to an important class of printing machines intended for the production of pictures and ornamental delincations in two or more colors; and more specifically to those adapted to print on sheets of paper and on the same side of each sheet, a number of superimposed impressions each with an ink of such a color as in the aggregate will produce the desired design at every complete revolution of the press.

- In the press which forms the subject matter of this invention the sheet of paper which is to receive the colored impression is fed to an impression-cylinder on which three or some greater odd number of impression-surfaces are provided. These are separated from each other by gaps across the cylinder, and in each gap grippers are placed, one set for each impression-surface,which are constructed and operated in the well known way so as to seize the leading edge of the sheet at the proper time, the same being presented therefor at the end of the feed-board. Each impression-surface ultimately receives a sheet, but not in immediate sequence; for the cams which close the grippers on the paper are caused to do so only-when every second impression-surface is reached, so that alternate surfaces only carry sheets for printing, the intermediate surfaces going forward empty, whereby an intermittent series of sheets upon the impression-cylinder is produced. In operativecontact with the impression-cylinder a number of form-cylinders, one for every color, are driven by gearing in the usual way. These form-cylinders are all of the same size and are all related to the diameter of the impression-cylinder in such a way that the radius of a form-cylinder goes into the diameter of the impression-cylinder an odd number of times without a remainder 5 and I shall use,

as sufficiently descriptive, the expression odd aliquot part to express the relation in size of one form-cylinder to the other as j ust stated. On each form-cylinder there is one curved form, less in length than half its circumference by the circumferential length of agap on the impression-cylinder. The form for each form-cylinder lies upon a form-support; to this it is made fast, and the space left empty on the cylinder (equal in length to that of the form and two gaps) is depressed below the general surface. Under these conditions every sheet carried by an impression-surface is brought by therevolution 0f the press, first, to the leading edge of the form printing the first color; then, going forward, it meets the leading edge of the form printing the second color; which contact is followed directly by the commencement of the third printing; and so on to the end of the series. The depressed portion of each form-cylinder in the mean time, as each completes its revolution, passes only those impression-surfaces which carry no sheets, together with the gaps at both ends of the same. The multicolor impressions being thus accomplished, the sheet bearing them is carried under the feed-board to suitable fingers where it is released and delivered on tapes, after which a fresh sheet is fed to the empty impression-surface immediately following, and the like alternating delivery and feed maintained so long as the press runs.

In the diagrammatic drawings which are part of this specification, Figure 1 is a fourcolor press, and Fig. 2 a five-color machine of similar construction except in the manner of feeding the sheets. Figs. 3 and 4, show means for controlling the opening and closing of the grippers in a press like that represented in Fig. 1, and Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate-like means for opening the grippers in a press like that shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 1 theimpression-cylinder is marked 10. This is provided with three impressionsurfaces 12, with gaps between containing each a set of grippers 14. adapted to take and hold the leading edge of a sheet upon the adjacent impression surface. On the feedboard 16 the sheets are presented to the grippers, and a sheet is shown there, by a short heavy line, ready for the next grippers to close upon it.

The cans governing the taking and releasing of the sheets are shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5,'

and 6, they resemble certain known devices for similar purposes, but in this press are made to operate on every second set of grippers only, by the employment of special devices to be more fully described hereinafter.

The four form-cylinders are marked 18. They have each a form-support at 20, to which a curved form is attached adapted in its design for the printing of one of the four colors. The forms are marked near their leading edges on the cylinders; No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4 respectively.

The inking apparatus for the forms 22, are all stationary, the forms receiving their ink as they come in contact with and pass the formrollers once for every revolution of the formcylinders. Inking devices of this kind are common and do not require further explanation.

In Fig. 1, one sheet only is shown upon the impression-cylinder by a heavy line. This has been printed upon by form No. 1, while form No. 2 is in the act of printing the second color upon it, and No. 3 has just commenced to print the third color. Forms Nos. 1 and 4 are passingempty impression-surfaces and are not engaged in printing at the time shown. In this figure the previously printed sheet, shown also by a heavyline, has been released under the feed-board the moment before that selected for illustration, and it is being conveyed by the stripping fingers 24 onto the delivery tapes 26.

Fig. 2 shows my invention applied in the construction of a five-color press. This, in its essential features, is like that above described, five form-cylinders being of course required to print the five colors. Room for these form-cylinders and other advantages I gain without increasing the diameter of the impression-cylinder, or the number of impression-surfaces upon it, by adding to the machine and combining therewith the feedeylinder 28. This interposed cylinder in Fig. 2 is half the diameter of the form-cylinders. It takes the sheet from the feed-board 30, (inclined from the side opposite to that used in Fig. 1,) by means of the grippers 32, and releases it at the moment when the'grippers 14 close upon it, whereby it is definitely and accurately transfered to its place upon the impression-cylinder. The feed-cylinder28 makes a complete revolution for every impressionsurface as it passes, but its grippers 32 open and take the sheet once only for every two revolutions. A feed-cylinder double the diameter of this one might also be used, if such were desirable, its grippers being then caused to close and take a sheet once for every revolution it makes. This press may be conveniently driven by the pinion 34.

In Fig. 3, means are shown for operating the grippers 14, in Fig. 1. A tumbling cam 38, is made fast in the usual way to the end of the gripper shaft 36, and pins 40 and 40 are projected forward into the same at the proper times by means of the cams 42 and 42' respectively. These cams acting through the levers 44 and 44 and the sliding pins 40 and. 40 turn the tumbling cam 38 over in one direction or the other, thereby giving a partial rotation to the gripper shaft 36, closing the grippers when the sheet is to 'be taken from the feed-board, and opening them when it 1s to be let go at the delivery fingers 24. The tumbling cam and grippers shown in the drawings are of course repeated for every impression-surface on the impression-cylinder. The gears 46 and 48,arerelated to each otheras twoistothree,becausetheimpression-cylinder 10 makes two thirds of a turn for each sheet taken or delivered. It will be seen that the gear 48, is fast on the shaft of the impressioncylinder, while the gear 46 with the cams 42 and 42' are on a stud in the frame 50.

When a feed-cylinder28 is used as in Figs. 5 and 6, the pins 40 and 4O are projected forward to turn over the tumbling cam 38 at the proper times. This is done also by means of the cam 42, and the lever 44, for the pins 40 and 40 are thrown forward and retracted at the right times through the instrumentality of the yoke 52, and the levcr44 which engages at its lower end with a collar 54 on the pin 40 It will be seen therefore that the cam 42 does all the work for both cylinders except the opening of the grippers as they pass the delivery fingers 24, which is accomplished by the cam '42, lever 44' and pin 40'.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that this press is both a convenient and a rapid machine. It gives ready access to the form-cylinders, so that there. is plenty of room for attaching and otherwise manipulating the forms. An over-feed is used, and a delivery, face up. As to speed: it follows from the construction, that for every complete revolution of one of the form-cylinders a finished chromatic print is discharged from the press, irrespective of the number of colors used in printing.

The principle underlying this press is believed to be distinctive and definite; but I do not wish it understood that I restrict myself exclusively to the special construction shown, as equivalent apparatus may be devised based upon like relations and which is therefore substantially the same.

By the expression odd plurality used in this specification, such numbers as three, five, seven, &c., are meant. And in this specification, when reference is made to the length of a form, or form-support, or impression-surface, gap or gap-spaces, the extension of the same circumferentially in the direction of the run of the press and at right angles to the axes of its cylinders, is always meant.

What I' claim is- 1. In a multicolor printing press, the combination of an impression-cylinder provided with an odd plurality of impression-surfaces; with two or more form-cylinders placed operatively in relation thereto and adapted each to carry one form covering less than half the circumference of the same, and each adjusted angularly to register upon every second impression-surface of the impression-cylinder as the cylinders revolve; substantially as described. I

2. In a multicolor printing press, the 00111- bination of an impression-cylinder provided with an odd plurality of impression-surfaces; with grippers for each arranged to close upon alternate impression-surfaces as they pass under the sheet-feeding devices; with form-cylinders in operative contact therewith, the radius of each of which is an odd aliquot part of the diameter of the impressioncylinder, and each bearing a form-support covering less than half the surface of the form-cylinder and a relatively depressed surface for the remainder; together with inking apparatus to supply the forms with the requisite colors for the several impressions they print; substantially as described.

3. In a multicolor printing press adapted for printing sheets; an impression-cylinder provided with an odd plurality of impressionsurfaces separated from each other by gaps containing grippers; in combination with as many equal sized form-cylinders as there are forms to be printed, with a form-support on each equal in length to one of the impressionsurfaces and occupying less-than half the periphery of each form-cylinder by a length equal to that of a gap on the impression-cylinder, with a relatively depressed surface on each form-cylinder occupying the rest thereof; and with cam devices closing every alternate set of grippers as the same pass the sheetfeeding devices; substantially as described.

4. In a multicolor printing press for printing sheets, a feed-cylinder adapted to seize and transfer the sheets presented to it; in combination and in operative contact with an impression-cylinder bearing an odd plurality of impression-surfaces; with grippers for each and means for closing the same on the sheets presented by the feed-cylinder to every second impression-surface; with form-cylinders carrying forms adapted to print the several colors in register upon the intermittent series of sheets and with means for releasing and delivering each printed sheet from the press in continuous alternation with the feed of blank sheets to the same; substantially as described.

WILLIAM G. WENDTE.

Witnesses:

SELWYN Z. BOWMAN, EDITH M. HOWE. 

